Lacteal fluid receptor and pad therefor



June 5, 1956 F. P. RICHARDS LACTEAL FLUID RECEPTOR AND PAD THEREFORFiled NOV. 5, 1951 472665 z'ckazrdfi:

United States Patent LACTEAL FLUID RECEPTOR AND PAD THEREFOR Thisinvention relates to means for collecting and retaining lacteal flow ofnursing mothers and particularly to a novel receptor including areceptacle and a replaceable absorbent pad carried by the pocket likereceptacle.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a moisture proof,pocket like receptor adapted to be placed inside the cup of a brassiereand a replaceable absorbent and disposable pad adapted to be carried bythe receptor which pad will absorb milk dripping from the breast of thewearer and the receptor will retain the pad and protect the garments ofthe wearer from stain.

Another object of the invention is to provide a lacteal fluid receptorfor nursing mothers adapted to be worn inside the cup of a brassiere andto support replaceable absorbent pads therein and which is detachablymounted in the cup of a nursing brassiere to permit removal therefromfor washing.

A further object of the invention is to provide a lacteal fluid receptormeans of the above character which is simple in construction andeconomical to manufacture, which is readily attached to and detachedfrom a brassiere, and which provides proper ventilation for the bodyarea covered thereby.

With the foregoing objects in view, together with such other objects andadvantages as may subsequently appear, the invention resides in theparts and in the construction, combination and arrangement of partsdisclosed by way of example in the following specification of one modeof execution of the invention; reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings which form a part of said specification and in which drawings;

Fig. 1 is a front perspective view of a brassiere on a wearer; a portionof the brassiere being broken away to show the receptor of the presentinvention in place thereunder,

Fig. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the inner or body contactingside of a receptor embodying the present invention,

Fig. 3 is a front or outer side elevation of the receptor shown in Fig.2,

Fig. 4 is an enlarged transverse sectional view taken generally on theline 44 of Fig. 1; a portion of the receptor being broken away to showthe relation of the parts when in use,

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the pocket forming flap component of thereceptor shown in the preceding figures,

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the replaceable absorbent pad used withthe receptor, and

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the tab element to be attached to thebrassiere strap to afford a detachable means for securing the receptorin place in the cup of a brassiere.

Referring first to Fig. 1, there is shown a nursing brassiere comprisinga body encircling band portion B including breast receiving cups C, C;the cups being in the form of flaps detachably secured in position byslide fasteners F, F, and a pair of shoulder straps S, S includice inglength adjusting means A, A. The brassiere forms no part of the presentinvention and is referred to here only for a better understanding of theinvention and its relation to the brassiere.

Referring now to all of the drawings, the invention comprises a thin,flexible, moisture proof pocket or receptor 1 adapted externally toconform generally to the inner face of the cup of the brassiere and tobe connected to the brassiere at a point at the upper edge of the cup;preferably to the shoulder strap associated with the brassiere cup. Thereceptor includes a front portion 2 of generally circular outline and arear portion 3 of generally crescent shaped outline; both portions beingcut from sheet plastic or equivalent material which is thin,moistureproof, and flexible. The curved lower edge 4 of the rear portion3 is attached to the curved lower edge 5 of the front portion 2 by aseam 6 which as shown here is a zigzag purling stitch which both securesthe edges together and also covers the raw edges with a neat ornamentalfinish; the stitching continuing completely around the front portion 2to provide an ornamental finish therefor. Prior to attachment, the frontportion of the upper edge 7 of the rear portion is also provided withthe same type of edge stitching; the center portion 8 thereof beingturned down and notched at the center at 9 to permit the turning toprovide a re-inforced portion of the edge thereof. To provide thedesired shape of receptor pocket, the lower edges of the front and backportions are preferably cut in curves of greater radius than the radiusof the joining seam and since the greater fullness is desired in thefront portion, that edge is cut on a greater curve than the lower edgeof the rear section. By way of example, incident to the stitchingtogether of the front and rear portions, the front portion is providedwith triangular tucks 10 at each side and a third triangular tuck 11 atthe center of the joining seam to effect a cup-like shape which willconform generally to the inner contour of the brassiere cup, and therear portion is also provided with a triangular tuck 12 of lesser extentthan the combined tucks 10, 10 and 11 and disposed opposite the tuck 11to bring said edge to substantially the same curvature as the tuckedlower edge of the front member and thereby to allow it to have afullness along the upper edge thereof. Alternatively to forming thetucks as the parts are sewn together, the tucks may be first formed andsecured in place before the joining operation or the joining operationmay include a slight relative shirring or gathering of the respectivelower edges at each stitch instead of the illustrated tucks; theessential being that the joining portion of the seam shall be shorterthan the length of the joined edges so that the desired relative extentsof fullness in the front and rear portions are achieved. Further, if thetucks are preformed in the front and rear portions, the edges can thenbe joined in a fusing process instead of sewing. Thev alternative modesof manufacture are discussed by way of showing that there are severalsatisfactory modes of forming the joining of the component parts of thereceptor and that the invention is not deemed to be limited to areceptor joined by the means illustrated. The upper edge of the outerportion 2 terminates in a point 13 and at this point one end of a shortstrap 14 is attached; the other end of the strap carrying on its outerface one component of a detachable fastener such as the snap fastenerpin member 15. The other fastener component 16 is attached to one end ofa second short strap 17, the opposite end of which is stitched orotherwise secured to the inner face of the shoulder strap S by the userat a position thereon which will properly position the receptor withinthe brassiere cup as indicated at 18. Ventilation is provided by aseries of holes 19 in the outer portion 2 in the area thereof above thepocket 20 formed therein by the joined front and rear portions.

Associated with the receptor is a replaceable absorbent pad 21 ofcrescent shape in side outline carried by the pocket 20 and preferablyformed of a soft, loosely matted, cellulosic material whichdisintegrates sufiicicntly in water to be readily disposable.

The use of the device is obvious. A pair of receptors are placed one ineach of the brassiere cups with a pad in each receptor and any leakagefrom the breasts of the wearer is absorbed by the pads and is retainedtherein and is prevented from soiling the clothing by the moistureproofmaterial of the receptor and, as the need arises, the pads can bequickly removed and replaced by fresh pads and the receptors can bereadily detached and replaced incident to Washing them. Further, thereceptor can be readily installed by the purchaser and when installed itcan be readily removed and replaced incident to opening and closing thebrassiere cup.

\Vhile the foregoing specification discloses one form of the invention,it is not to be assumed that the invention is limited to the exact formso disclosed and the invention includes all such modifications in theparts and in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts asshall come within the purview of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A lacteal fluid receptor comprising a first member formed of thin,flexible, moisture proof material shaped to conform to the inner face ofthe cup portion of a brassiere, a second member formed of thin,flexible, moisture proof material disposed on the side of said firstmember opposite the cup engaging side thereof; the curved lower edge ofsaid first member being of greater length than the lower edge of saidsecond member and both of said edges being gathered to form edgeportions of substantially identical lengths which are less than theungathered length of said lower edge of said second member, and saidedges being connected together with resultant formation of a padreceiving pocket, and means operable to effect detachable connection ofsaid receptor with a brassiere at a point above the cup portion thereof.

2. A lacteal fluid receptor comprising a first member formed of thin,flexible, moisture proof material shaped to conform to the inner face ofthe cup portion of a brassiere, a second member formed of thin,flexible, moisture proof material of generally crescent shape in planoutline disposed on the side of said first member opposite the cupengaging side thereof; the curved lower edge of said first member beingof greater length than the lower edge of said second member and both ofsaid edges being gathered to form edge portions of substantiallyidentical lengths which are less than the ungathered length of saidlower edge of said second member, and said edges being connectedtogether with resultant formation of a pad receiving pocket, meansoperable to effect detachable connection of said receptor with abrassiere at a point above the cup portion thereof, and a replaceableabsorbent pad element in said pocket.

3. A lacteal fluid receptor comprising a first member formed of thin,flexible, moisture proof material shaped to conform to the inner face ofthe cup portion of a brassiere, a second member formed of thin,flexible, moisture proof material of generally crescent shape in planoutline disposed on the side of said first member opposite the cupengaging side thereof; the curved lower edge of said first member beingof greater length than the lower edge of said second member and both ofsaid edges being gathered to form edge portions of substantiallyidentical lengths which are less than the ungathered length of saidlower edge of said second member, and said edges being connectedtogether with resultant formation of a pad receiving pocket, and meansoperable to effect detachable connection of said receptor with abrassiere at a point above the cup portion thereof; said connectingmeans comprising a first strap element having one end thereof attachedto the upper edge of said first portion and having one component of adetachable connector at the other end thereof and a second strap elementhaving a complementary component of said connector at one end thereofand having its other end disposed for attachment to the brassiere at apoint above the cup portion of the brassiere.

4. A lacteal fluid receptor comprising a first member formed of thin,flexible, moisture proof material shaped to conform to the inner face ofthe cup portion of a brassiere, a second member formed of thin,flexible, moisture proof material disposed on the side of said firstmember opposite the cup engaging side thereof; the curved lower edge ofsaid first member being of greater length than the lower edge of saidsecond member and both of said edges being gathered to form edgeportions of substantially identical length which are less than theungathered length of said lower edge of said second member, and saidedges being connected together with resultant formation of a padreceiving pocket, means operable to effect detachable connection of saidreceptor with a brassiere at a point above the cup portion thereof, anda replaceable absorbent pad element having a concavely curved bodyengaging surface disposed in said pocket; said connecting meanscomprising a first strap element having one end thereof attached to theupper edge of said first portion and having one component of adetachable connector at the other end thereof and a second strap elementhaving a complementary component of said connector at one end thereofand having its other end disposed for attachment to the brassiere at apoint above the cup portion of the brassiere.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,984,253 Cox Dec. 11, 1934 1,989,382 Schnaittacher Jan. 29, 19352,047,522 Schnaittacher July 14, 1936 2,134,294 Yerkes Oct. 25, 19382,544,069 Cutler Mar. 6, 1951 2,564,094 Brandi Aug, 14, 1951 FOREIGNPATENTS 958,747 France Sept. 19, 1949 968,418 France Apr. 19, 1950

